Accelerator throttle control



y 7,1958 R. v. KOEHLER ETAL 2,836,076

ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CONTROL v Filed Nov. 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2,836,076 Patented May 27, 1958 United States Patent ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CONTROL Raymond V. Koehler and Michael Batenburg, Kenosha, Wis., assignors to American Motors Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Application November 24, 1953, Serial No. 394,165

4 Claims. (Cl. 74-472) This invention relates to a carburetor throttle control and more particularly to the linkage used for actuating a carburetor throttle valve.

,It is an object of this invention to provide a carburetor throttle linkage which is used to actuate a so-called butterfly valve forming part of the carburetor or to initiate overdrive as occasion arises.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carburetor throttle linkage that is compact and easy to install. We contemplate providing a linkage embodying a bell crank and arranged so that as an automobile body is assembled on the chassis, such linkage will not offer obstacles to lessen the time and increase the effort in such assembly. We also combine a form of linkage which presents elements moving through a predetermined range with respect to actuating a butterfly valve in said carburetor which also provides a stop in said carburetor to prevent rotative movement of certain of said linkage elements and permit movement of other elements in said linkage to actuate an overdrive kick-down switch.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carburetor throttle linkage for a motor which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and easy to install in. the ordinary motor vehicle.

We are aware of the various constructions heretofore used with respect to mounting carburetor throttle linkage on an internal combustion engine. Under the circumstances it will be manifest that it is our chief aim to generally improve upon prior structures of the general type by providing an arrangement characterized by appreciable refinements and structural improvements.

With our arrangement a substantial amount of time, labor, and loss due to damage is avoided. There is no opportunity of the linkage interfering or getting in the way of parts of an automobile body being assembled on the chassis.

The several objects, advantages and novel details of construction of the invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: V Figure 1 is a plan view of an automotive vehicle with a portion of the invented subject matter disclosed in dotted lines. v

'Figu'reZ is a side view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the invention is shown as it may be used on an automotive vehicle designated by the numeral showing the linkage L of the present invention in relation to the cylinder head C, the cylinder block CB and the clutch housing CH. The foot pedal 11, provided with pedal rod 12, extends through a toe board 13 where the free end of said rod is mounted on one end of a bell crank 14. This crank 14 is rotatably mounted at its bottom section on a pin 16 and at its upper section on a pin 15. Each pin 15 and 16 is anchored at opposite ends in a bracket 17 of very novel shape. The back wall 18 of bracket 17 is formed in a V to follow the outline of the dash panel 31, being secured to said dash panel by any suitable fastening elements, with the ends 19 and 29 of said back wall extending vertically, as shown in Figure 2. The end 19 is bent adjacent its free end to provide an extension 22 which is arranged outwardly and away from said vertical part of 19 and at substantially right angles therefrom. Said extension 22 is apertured to receive the pin 15. The end 20 is also bent adjacent its free end to provide an extension 23 which is arranged outwardly and away from said vertical part of 20 and is at substantially right angles therefrom. The extension 23 is apertured to receive the pin 16 and its free end is arranged in the form of a bracket 24 which has opposed ears 25' with openings to receive fastening elements 26 to anchor said bracket to the cylinder block CB. The ends of said bell'crank 14 and the ends of said bracket 17 are separated from each other on the pins 15 and 16 bywashers 27 arranged on said pins 15 and 16. These washers are of felt construction and oil soaked to lubricate the surfaces of said bell crank and are in close proximity to pins 15 and 16. The bell crank has an extension 30 at one end provided with ears 9 wherein a collar32 is arranged. This collar is of such diameter as to receive an operating rod 33. This collar normally bears against a tension spring 34 encircling the space between the collar and the free end of said rod. The spring is held on said rod and prevented from sliding olf said rod by a plate 35. and pin 36.

The other end of the operating rod is provided with a hooked extension 37 having a balled end (not srown) normally engaged in a socket arranged in a fastening member 38 which is secured to a bracket 39 having one extension 40 supporting one end of a pull back or return spring 41 and a further extension secured to a part of the circumferential surface of an accelerator shaft 42. The other end of said pull back spring is anchored in bracket 50 which is secured to the dash panel 31.

In operation, therefore, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, swinging movement of the operating shaft will cause rotative movement of the accelerator shaft 42. The accelerator shaft 42 rotates at one end Within a dubber bearing 43 which is mounted on bracket 44 secured to the dash panel 31. The free end of said accelerator shaft is formed in the shape of a book which projects through apertures formed in a U-shaped extension 45. This extension has a short pin 46 which extends into carburetor 47 and actuates a butterfly valve 48 of well known design.

In operation, therefore, the accelerator shaft rotates, the spring 41 expands and is under considerable tension, enough to cause the accelerator shaft to rotate back to normal position when the pressure on the foot pedal 11 is eliminated.

The linkage of the instant invention is particularly adaptable to mechanism provided with overdrive. The butterfly valve in the carburetor, which is of well known construction, is provided with the usual accelerator shaft stop, not shown. This stop is arranged in the path of the pin 46 which is turned by rotative movement of the accelerator shaft. When the accelerator shaft has turned in approximately an degree are, the stop engages the pin 46 and prevents any further movement of the accelerator shaft 42. Continued pressure on the pedal 11 moves the bell crank 14. The control rod 33 tends to push against the collar 32 but as the accelerator shaft 42 is locked against rotative movement beyond the 85 degree are, the collar 32 rises up against the spring sliding upwardly along the control rod 33 and compressing the spring. Thus, the continued movement or over-travel of the bell crank beyond the needs of the accelerator shaft eventually causes the ear described above.

.48 on the bell crank to engage the switch button 20 thereby closing the electrical circuit which is controlled by the switch mechanism 49. The switch mechanism forms part of the overdrive transmission mechanism which is not shown and which, as such, forms no part of the invention: ,7 V

The action priorto closing the switch mechanism of the overdrive system above is as follows: An operator depresses thefootpedal 11 thus forcing the pedal rod 12 to rotate the bell-crank about the pins 15 and 16. Movement of the Ibell crank swings the operating rod 33 which pulls against the bracket 39 and spring 41 movement of the'accelerator shaft has a range of 85 degrees as determined by the pin and stop in the car buretor before the overdrive condition takes place as It is thought that the construction, manipulation, utility,

and advantages of this invention will now be apparent to those skilled in this art without'a more detailed description thereof.

side thereof and upper and lowerextensions spaced from each other and extending outwardly from the base portion; a bell crank including arm portions pivotally connected h Y which in turns causes the accelerator shaft 42 to rotate. Such rotative w 2; In ail automotive vehicle having an engine com; 7

partrnent and a passenger compartment separated by a dash panel and having a carburetor and a valvetherein and also having an electrical switching mechanism, ap-

paratus for effecting actuation of the valve and switching mechanism comprising: a bracket including a base portion secured to the dash panel on the'engine. compartment to the upper and lower bracket extensions respectively and a bridge portion interconnecting the arm portions;

a foot pedal on the passenger compartment side ofthe dash panel'and a link extending through the-dash panel so as to interconnect the foot pedal to the lower arm portion of the bell crank; a switching mechanism secured to.

the lower extension of the bracket and arranged in the path of movement of' the lower arm portion of the bell crank; an accelerator shaft having connectionto the car- The present iembodiment'of the invention has been described in considerable detail merely for the purpose of exemplification since in actual'practice it attains the features of the invention and the abovedescription.

' It wilkbeappafent that'changes in' the details offlconst'ruction, and in the combination and arrangement of or sacrificing any of its advantages. 7 7 Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: 1. In an automotivevehicle having an'engine' compartment and a passenger. compartment separated by a, V dash paneland'having aicarburetor and a valve therein 1 controlled by a rotatable shaftand also having an electrical switchingmechanism, apparatus for effecting rotation of the. valve shaft and for actuatingthe switching mechanismcomprising: a bracketincluding a base por- 7 non securedto the dash panel on the enginecompartment' side'the reof' and upp t and lower extensionsspaced from :each other. and extending outwardly from the base portion;

a bell crank including arm portions pivotally connected to the upper and lower bracket extensions respectively and abridge portion interconnecting the arm portions; a foot pedal on theapassenger compartment sideflofithe dash panel and 1a linkextending through the dash panel so as to interconnect; the foot pedalto the lower arm portion of the bellcrankfaswitchingmcchanism 'secured to the '7 lower' extension of the, bracket and arranged in the path of movement of the lower-arm portion of the bell' crank;

an. accelerator shafthaving connection to the carburetor valve shaft for effecting rotation of same; an actuating rod 'buretor valve for actuating same; an actuating rod havin connection to'the accelerator shaft at one of .its ends and connection to the upper extension of the bell crank at the other of its ends whereby rotation of the bell crank effects actuation of the accelerator shaft and spring means C011 tion of the accelerator shaft in one direction of rotation.

a maybe; resorted to without departing from'thespirit or scope of "theinvention as hereinafter'claimed nected to the accelerator shaft and normally urging rota- '3. Inana'utomotive vehicle having a dash panel sepa: rating the: engine compartment from-thepassenger compartment and a carburetor valv'e, apparatus for controlling actuation of the carburetor valve comprising: a foot pedal on the passenger compartment side of the dash panel; a link connected to the foot pedal and extending having connectionto the aceeleratorf shaft at one of its 1 ends and connection to 'the-uppe'r extension of the bell crank'at the other of itsends whereby rotation of the bell crank elfects rotation of 'the accelerator'shaft-about 'an thebell crank and springmeans connected to the acceleratorshaft and "normally urgingrotation of the accelerator shaft in one direction of rotation. l

' axiswhich is not concentric with the axis of rotation of' V through thedashpan'el'; an accelerator shaft located on the engine compartment side of the dash panel and an actuating rod fofactuati ng the'acceleriator shaft; astationary suppolt bracket including a base portion-secured to the dash panel on the engine compartment side thereof and upper and'lower spaced extensions projecting outwardly from the "base portion; a crank including'a generally U-shaped portion supported by and having pivotal.

connection with the upper and lower bracket extensions; a crankljarm extending outwardly from the U-shaped portion'and connected to the linkg and said crank having a a portion connected to the actuating rod.

4.Apparatus as set forth in claim 3- wherein the lower extension of the bracket has an outwardly projecting arm and a switching mechanism is securedto's'aid arm, said switching mechanism being in the path crank arm for actuation thereby.

References Citedin therfile of this patent STATES PATENTS 1,6 19,319- Thomas Mar.,1, 1927 1,629,919 La ne May 24, 1927 2,236,657 Webb Apr. 1, 1941 [2,254,334 Vi'ncent Sept. 2, 1941' 2,312,274 Stortz Feb..23, 1943 2,380,717 Beltz July 31, 19.45 7 2,504,286 Wahlberg'etal. Apr. 18, 1950 2,693,712..

travel ofthe 

